Adebowale Adeyeye
Dr. Adebowale Adeyeye is the MD/Group CEO of Creativo el Matador Group, overseeing operations across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), France, and the UK. His company operates across multiple sectors of the agricultural value chain, with a focus on climate-smart and energy-efficient agriculture, value-added exports, consulting, and construction.
A highly experienced agribusiness leader, Adebowale is deeply passionate about agricultural processing, value chain development, rural engagement, and international trade. He is the driving force behind the Buy African, Build Africa (BABA foods) initiative, advocating for value addition and manufacturing within Africa to strengthen the continent’s economic self- sufficiency.
Through his leadership, Dr. Adebowale has transformed the cashew, grains, and oilseeds industries, creating employment opportunities for over 400 men and 2,000 women. He has
worked closely with governments at both the national and subnational levels, advising on high- impact agricultural projects in states such as Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Jigawa, and Kano in Nigeria, as well as national governments in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and France.
Academic & Professional Credentials
Dr. Adeyeye holds:
• A B.Tech in Agricultural Economics and Extension from Federal University of Technology, Akure.
• A Master’s degree in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development from the University of Ibadan
• A Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice from the University of Liverpool.
• A Ph.D. in Agricultural Value Chain Optimization and Agribusiness Management in Turbulent Economies from De Montfort University, Leicester
Industry Expertise & Achievements
As a value chain expert, Dr. Adeyeye has cultivated a vast network of farmers, suppliers, processors, researchers, distributors, brokers, and bulk buyers of agricultural products across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Over the past 15 years, he has successfully secured contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
He has played a pivotal role in:
• Agricultural commodity processing and trading, specializing in cashew nuts, soybeans, sesame seeds, hibiscus flowers, cassava, cocoa, cassia tora, palm products, ginger, and gum Arabic.
• Developing a robust quality control and sourcing network across Nigeria, ensuring the highest industry standards, reducing rate of rejection of exported commodities.
• Training and mentoring over 1,000 youths and women in agribusiness, fostering entrepreneurship and job creation.
• Consulting for both private and public sectors on strategies to reduce post-harvest losses, improve pricing models, and expand agricultural trade.
His company has honed its expertise in commodity trading, leveraging years of experience to capitalize on investment opportunities in the agricultural value chain. His leadership has been instrumental in enhancing shareholder value while driving sustainable development.
Driving Industrial Growth in Africa
Dr. Adeyeye is a firm believer in Africa’s potential for self-sufficiency through industrialization. His advocacy for value addition before export has led to ground-breaking initiatives, including:
• Scaling cashew processing operations from 500kg/day to 12 tonnes/day in just six years, with an ambitious expansion to 25 tonnes/day in the next two years.
• Expanding oil milling capacity from 5 tonnes/day to 45 tonnes/day in 5 years, with a 300- tonne/day plant set to commence operations in 2025.
• Developing a specialized commodity exchange platform aimed at tackling post-harvest losses, price volatility, and export rejection issues—with a goal of handling 25 million metric tonnes of commodities within five years.
Dr. Adeyeye’s vision is clear: Africa’s path to prosperity lies in harnessing its own resources, adding value locally, and building strong trade networks. Through strategic investments and advocacy, he continues to champion Africa’s industrial revolution, job creation, social and economic transformation.